Always read the write-up for an outing very carefully to determine the
difficulty of it. And if you plan to participate in an outing, make sure that you are at
the level of physical conditioning necessary to complete it.

Generally, a hike of more than 6 miles and 1200 feet elevation gain is 'moderate' and
not suitable for beginners. If the write-up specifies 'strenuous', 'fast-paced', 'no
beginners', etc., expect extra exercise and skill requirements. And if you are unsure
whether you are in condition for an activity, call the leader first.

Conditioning Hikes

For those who want to get in shape--or stay in shape--for our outings, the Angeles
Chapter offers various local conditioning hikes that meet on a regular basis throughout
Southern California. The exact
locations, dates, and other details are disclosed in the Repeating
Activities/Conditioning of the schedule of Angeles Chapter Outings and Activities.

For those who desire a greater appreciation for
the things that one sees on our outings, the Natural Science Section
(NSS) of the Angeles Chapter sponsors workshops, field trips, and other outings on
environmental awareness. These activities are very informative and well worth the time and
expense. The exact dates and
other details are disclosed in the schedule of Angeles Chapter Outings and Activities.

Published Articles and Other Information

For those who wish to stay abreast of the
conservation issues in the places that we visit, you can read previously published
articles in the Archives
of The Newsletter of the Angeles Chapter's Conservation Committee. Or you can
investigate our Chapter's immediate concerns by checking out the current Angeles
Chapter Conservation Activities.

And for those of you who wish to become
more environmentally aware through 20s & 30s, you can read about the issues
that concern our section in Conservation.

Please familiarize yourself with the
Angeles
Chapter Outings Policies on
Activities
Requirements under the subheading Transportation;
for we do not take an active role in making arrangements for ridesharing. However,
we do encourage you to make such arrangements. And, as such, we will provide
you with information on participants who might be interested in ridesharing
and the list of Southern California ride
share locations.

Overnight Outings

For overnight outings, that information will be
provided to you in a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) by the reservationist.

Day Outings

For day outings, there is no formal procedure;
however, there are ways to get that information. One way is to join a mailing list of
people in our section who are interested in doing non-Sierra Club activities together.
Once you have joined this mailing list, you can use it to make requests for ridesharing
via E-mail. To join, simply send an E-mail with the word SUBSCRIBE in the body of the
letter to 20s30s-request@rivalnet.net
(no subject required). But remember, this mailing list is not a service of the Sierra
Club, the Angeles Chapter, or any section thereof.

Expenses

And if you do
rideshare with someone to an activity, we suggest that each rider pay the driver 5 to 10
cents per mile for expenses.

For overnight outings,
the leaders will provide a list of recommended supplies to all registered participants in
an SASE.

Day Outings

For day outings, each
activities write-up will list certain things that participants need to have; but that list
is not exhaustive! Without saying, participants need to have the appropriate clothing,
food and water, and other supplies for the given situation.

20s & 30s
recommends that participants include the following items in their gear on its day hikes:
Sunscreen, sunglasses, water/juice, food, day pack/fanny pack, hiking boots, and a light
jacket.

The Angeles
Chapter highly recommends that participants bring The Ten
Essentials on all outings in the wilderness.

Passes & Permits

If you plan to park
your car in the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, or San Bernardino National Forests for one
of our activities, you will need a National
Forest Adventure Pass; the daily pass is $5 and the annual one is $30. Either may be
purchased at any US Forest Service office or at various private vendors that sell
wilderness supplies.

If one of our
outings is in an area that requires a Wilderness or Campfire Permit, the leader of the
outing will usually get that permit for the group.

For those
who want an introduction to backpacking, this section offers a Beginning
Backpacking Class once a year (in the spring) on basic skills and information.
The cost is nominal and the course is short in duration.

Wilderness Travel Course

For those who want to
know it all, the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club offers one of the best in-depth
courses on good hiking and backpacking skills that you will find. It is called the Wilderness Travel Course.
The cost is very reasonable and is usually half what most private companies would charge
for the same thing. It too is offered once a year (in the winter).

Wilderness First Aid Course

For those who want
expertise in dealing with medical emergencies in the wilderness, the Angeles Chapter
offers a wilderness first aid course. It is quite thorough; yet its cost is nominal,
considering what you get. And it is offered twice a year (in the spring and fall). But
sign up early for this one; as it is a very popular. The exact dates and other details are
disclosed in the schedule of Angeles Chapter Outings and Activities.

Training in Navigation, Rock,
and Snow Safety Skills & Rescue

For those who want
training in navigation, rock, and snow safety skills & rescue, the Angeles Chapter
also offers courses and workshops on these skills at various times throughout the year.
The exact dates and other details are disclosed in the schedule of Angeles Chapter
Outings and Activities.